Enterprise Risk Director

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Income Protection

Critical Illness Insurance

Job summary

NZTA | Waka Kotahi invites applications for an Enterprise Risk Director to position risk at the core of transport decisions. You will lead the evolution of enterprise risk, embedding foresight and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive, ELT, and Board while strengthening resilience and continuity planning.

You will coach a skilled team and collaborate across governance, procurement, and assurance to deliver risk-informed decisions that balance value and delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading enterprise risk in a large, complex environment.
• Proactive, insight-led risk management with mature practices.
• Credibility with CEOs, ELT, Boards and audit committees.
• Expertise in governance, risk appetite, policy, and reporting.
• Strength in commercial and systems thinking for resilience.
• Strong people leadership and capability building.
• Relevant tertiary and recognised governance qualifications.
• Awareness or willingness to gain Te Ao Māori and te Tiriti understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise risk function and set its direction.
• Embed risk-informed thinking in strategy, investments and operations.
• Strengthen governance, risk appetite and board reporting.
• Enhance resilience including business continuity and crisis management.
• Coach and develop the enterprise risk team as a strategic partner.

Skills

Enterprise risk leadership

Risk governance

Executive credibility

Strategic risk management

Business continuity planning

People leadership

Risk qualification

Te Ao Māori knowledge

Waitangi awareness

Education

Tertiary qualification

Risk/audit/governance qualification

Job description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity This newly established role will position enterprise risk at the centre of NZTA's major transport, investment and organisational decisions. Reporting to the Group General Counsel and joining the General Counsel Office leadership team, you will lead the evolution of NZTA's enterprise risk capability. You will provide independent, forward-looking insight and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team, Audit and Risk Committee and Board. The Enterprise Risk Director will set the direction for enterprise risk, strengthen governance and risk appetite, and help leaders navigate emerging risks, opportunities and trade-offs. You will embed risk-informed thinking in strategic, investment and operational decisions and strengthen enterprise resilience, including business continuity and crisis management. You will also lead, coach and develop the enterprise risk team, positioning the function as a trusted strategic partner that brings foresight, sound judgement and a balanced view of risk, value and delivery. View the Position Description here.

Ko koe tēnei | About you To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Extensive experience leading an enterprise risk function in a large, complex and highly scrutinised environment.
• A track record of lifting organisational maturity towards proactive, insight-led risk management.
• Demonstrated influence and credibility wit.h chief executives, executive leadership teams, Boards and audit and risk committees.
• Deep expertise in enterprise risk governance, including frameworks, operating models, risk appetite, policy, standards and Board reporting.
• Strong commercial and systems thinking, with experience strengthening enterprise resilience, including business continuity or crisis management.
• Highly developed people leadership capability, with experience building technical and strategic capability and fostering accountability, continuous improvement and delivery.
• A relevant tertiary qualification alongside a recognised risk, audit or governance qualification.
• You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori.
• You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public sector.

Ko wai mātou | About us Our purpose is transport networks that deliver for people, places and New Zealand. Within Te Ama - Commercial and Corporate, the General Counsel Office enables NZTA to operate with commercial strength, integrity and resilience through expert leadership in governance, legal, procurement, risk and assurance.

• Waka Kotahi Life
• Income Protection
• Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees

If you can bring foresight, constructive challenge and sound judgement to NZTA's most significant decisions, we welcome your application.

NZTA| Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values.

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Rá Katinga | Applications close: 14 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.